Hey guys- long time no talk, right? I miss you all. I'm here, though as you probably noticed less so than I used to be. It's by design- lots of stuff in the works as always, and figuring out how this little blog fits in to all of it is always something I think about. People are reading fewer words these days, looking at more pictures, listening to more podcasts. How do we continue to stay in touch in a world whose canvas is ever-changing? Do I even want to try? (Yes. You should always try.) ... Read more »
all dogs go to kevin
Ask Me Anything TOMORROW on reddit! (Plus reddit primer)
If you know and love reddit already, here's the short short version: Tomorrow (8/11/15) I will be on Reddit doing an AMA from 2-5 PST (5-8 EST) on /r/books. I'd love for you to join me! If you don't know reddit, you might need a more involved primer: What is reddit? Reddit is a website where people talk about, well, just about everything. Some people talk about football. Some people talk about cars. Others talk about knitting, politics, cat videos, just about anything under the sun. As a ... Read more »
Painting the Roses Red
It's pub day! The book is out at long last! I really hope you all enjoy it- All Dogs Go to Kevin has truly been a labor of love. (That link goes to my new website. Did I mention I have a new website? It's been so busy around here I think I forgot.) Last weekend I went to Warwicks to sign the preordered books. Brian and the kids were at ComicCon, so I went to Warwicks by myself. It was a short task, no more than 20 minutes, so I couldn't figure out why I was so bummed about going alone, and ... Read more »
The calm before the storm
Oh my goodness. One week from tomorrow and it's going to be one of the most important days of my life: right up there with graduating, getting married, having my kids. I will be an official published author. Aieeee! I dreamed of this long before I thought about going to veterinary school, back when I was seven and I pulled every book off my shelf and artfully arranged them around the house playing bookstore ( Or was it library?) When I sat under the kitchen counter reading National ... Read more »
Charity Treat: Newflands Hoki Oil and AFARNYC
Perhaps you are the magnanimous sort. "Dr. V," you say, "I ordered the book but I don't need the free Halo or Sleepypod stuff or PetHub tag or Dog + Bone collars or Groom Genie or any of those items you are giving away, not even the awesome little activity book with coloring pages and a word search featuring ANALGLANDS and DEMODEX." You are an ascetic. You don't have a pet. You're decluttering. OK, I get that. But surely you aren't opposed to a donation in your name, right? I have a ... Read more »
Safe and styling travel: The Auto treat featuring Sleepypod Clickit and PeaceLovePaws!
It's summer- heck, the fourth of July is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, and you know what that means. Traffic. Sitting on the road. Making sure your pet doesn't get carsick. That sort of thing. Carsickness aside, the biggest risk to pets with travel is the danger of an unsecured pet- for the pet himself, and for you. Unsecured, a pet is a projectile during an accident, and even in minor crashes there is a very high rate of injury when pets escape and run into traffic. Even a ... Read more »
Bites for Books: Halo Pet Treat to Eat!
We are almost to the end of our treat selections and they are going fast! All you need to do is order 2 copies of the book and you get a treat- it's like free goodies from heaven! Today's treat comes to you courtesy of Halo Pet Food, a long-time friend of the blog. They are ingredient-focused, with an emphasis on no chicken meal, by-product meal, or rendered meat. You may be familiar with the brand as a highly philanthropic company, with their freekibble.com site donating hundreds ... Read more »
Tags for Tomes: PetHub and Lost Pet Prevention Month!
July is Lost Pet Prevention Month, and that's a huge deal. After all, the fifth of July is the single busiest day of the year for shelters, due to a cross-the-country habit of loud explosives sending panicked dogs and cats screaming out the door the night before. If you think your pet is a flight risk, there's still time! Talk to the vet about anxiety prevention measures before you need them. Acepromazine, that old stand-by sedative, is actually a terrible choice as it does nothing to ... Read more »
Grungy Dogs rejoice: Neat Treat Groom Genie and Paw Sponge are here!
When you live with a Golden, you get very accustomed to fur tumbleweeds skittering across the floor, wet footprints marking the tile, and a standing order for lint rollers. It just comes with the territory. I've also become somewhat of a connoisseur of brushes; brushes for removing undercoats, for dematting, for general purpose grooming. So when I was sent an unassuming Groom Genie to test out, I figured, "here we go, another one for the grooming bin." Then I tried it. I don't know ... Read more »
Bowls for books: Sleepypod Yummy bowl Travel Treat!
If you're wondering if the entire blog has gone to the dogs lately, the answer is yes. This blog is All Dogs Go to Kevin, All the Time....through July 14th. That's when the preorder part is over and I'm either kicking back with a bottle of champagne and planning the next book or crying inconsolably in a parking lot somewhere when I find out I sold less copies than William Hung's newest single. I don't want that, at all, which is why I spent so many hours staring over my husband's shoulder while ... Read more »
Dog Plus Bone: The Stylin’ Treat Collar for posh pups
The preorder incentive campaign for All Dogs Go to Kevin is swimming along, but because you all are so awesome I really wanted to share some extra special items as thank yous for all your support. Today I want to introduce you to the Stylin' Treat: A snap or martingale collar from the wonderful team at Dog Plus Bone! Dog Plus Bone is the brainchild of owners Anne and Ivan, who set out with one goal: "to create simple, honest, classic products that enable you to enjoy more ... Read more »
How Emmett helped save me from depression
When people ask me what my book is about, I feel silly saying, "Dogs," so I've been trying to refine it. I got a little further: "3 Dogs," and then, "3 dogs who were really important to me and also it's about my friend Kevin and a funny play on words," and then I took a break. It didn't really hit me until my mom got sick: This is a book about the purpose dogs have in our lives, about how they are here for a discrete space and time and change us for the better in very specific ways. And the ... Read more »
Book updates, giveaways, and TREATS!
On we soldier, because that is what we must do. A few months ago, my mother asked to read the galley of All Dogs Go to Kevin, and I said, "No, you have to wait till the book comes out like everyone else." Later that afternoon I felt terrible about that so I said, "OK, I changed my mind, here you go." She read it in a day then called to tell me how much she loved it. I am really, really glad I changed my mind. I imagine things are a bit chaotic for her right now but I have high hopes she'll ... Read more »
I take back everything I’ve said about writing being fun and easy
There is nothing that will make you gain an appreciation for a creative process more than attempting to do it yourself. You know, like those people who scoff at the museum and say, "A kid could do that!" and then go home and paint something absolutely horrid. Or those people who look on Pinterest or food blogs for new recipes. This is how I feel about writing a book. "I write a blog," I said. "I have a command of basic English," I said. This will be a piece of cake. James Patterson ... Read more »
How to Write a Blog vs How to Write a Book
After writing a blog for half a decade now, you'd think that the transition from blog to book would be effortless; and if not that, at least somewhat intuitive. You'd be wrong. It's kind of like saying, hey, I walk my dog every day, I'm totally up for a triathlon. Some of you have asked how it's going or what it's like. It's not easy, but really, what good things in life are? I'm enjoying the process immensely. I'm Ralph Macchio currently getting edited by my very own Pat Morita. We are on ... Read more »
It’s OK to laugh
On March first, I hit 'send' and the first draft of my manuscript went flying through the ether to New York to land in the capable hands of my editor. It was simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. If any of you watched the Oscars and heard De Niro deliver this little nugget: The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated, neurotic, caffeine-addled, crippled by procrastination, consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing, and soul-crushing inadequacy. And that’s on a good ... Read more »
The most seriously awesome thing ever: Part 1
Short Version About that champagne thing. Let me tell you what has been going on the last few months. Dr V is writing book in little less than half a year. So all I have to do is write the book, edit it, keep Brody alive, work, and add 4 hours to every day. After I plot the dethroning of the Evil Count AwfulSuperintendent here in my school district. Long Version When I was seven, my mother once punished me by sending me to my room for an hour. Three hours later, she came upstairs and ... Read more »
Kevin’s right hand man
As awful as this week has been, I have found so much comfort in finding that others have been touched by my little dude as well. I know my sadness is no different than each of you who has also lost a dear friend. How sad for those who haven't felt this kind of loss, because that means they never got to experience this kind of love. When Emmett and I were at Dog Beach this Sunday, I was following along as Emmett nuzzled a woman for pets as he always does. After receiving his due, we continued ... Read more »
